Photonics.comDec 2005
BEDFORD, Mass., Dec. 8 -- Reveal Imaging Technologies Inc., a developer of advanced security inspection systems, has received a $2.5 million research and development contract from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to optimize the performance of its computed tomography (CT) technology to detect explosives in cargo transported in passenger planes.

New regulations under the Aviation and Transportation Security Act require that 100 percent of checked airline passenger bags be inspected, as well as any air freight, cargo and mail carried on commercial airlines. The Act also requires improved inspection processes at ports, rail yards and other transportation facilities.

The TSA contract was awarded under the EDS (explosives detection systems) Break-Bulk Cargo Optimization Program. Break-bulk air cargo is handled by hundreds of cargo terminals throughout the US and is frequently carried in the hold of commercial passenger aircraft. In October, Reveal received a $24.8 million TSA order for its CT-80 automated EDS for airport checked baggage as part of a three-year contract. Reveal says it is one of only three companies to be certified by TSA for automated EDS.

"The CT-80 is currently certified by the TSA for checked baggage inspection. Cargo presents a different set of challenges, but we believe a small, inexpensive EDS system can certainly help improve air cargo security," said Michael Ellenbogen, president and CEO of Reveal Imaging Technologies. Each break-bulk package will be automatically scanned and analyzed using measurements such as density and atomic number to optimize detection while reducing the number of false alarms.

Reveal is also developing explosives detection solutions under two other TSA programs with a $2.38 million grant as part of TSA's Phoenix program for an integrated solution that revolutionizes the system design for screening checked luggage for explosives, and a $3.6 million research and development contract under Project Cambria, TSA's advanced weapons and explosives detection system development program.